Your eyesight plays the most crucial role in your overall life. It is the most valuable asset you have hence the need to maintain and protect at all costs. Unfortunately, eyes are often exposed to many risk factors that predispose them to sight problems.
Most eye problems often hide in plain sight, and before you realize it, they already damage your delicate visual system. However, your doctor can detect and treat them at early stages with regular eye exams before losing your sight. Here is the most common eye problem you should know. Don’t hesitate to visit an ophthalmologist if any of these happen to you..
- Glaucoma
It is normal for an eye to produce often and leak out a small amount of fluid. A Glaucoma condition is a group of diseases that damages the eye’s optic nerve that transmits images to the brain. As a result, the condition blocks the eye drainage system that allows normal tear flow.
Eventually, there will be a build-up of intraocular pressure in the eye, causing massive damage to the optic nerve. It’s evident that the increased pressure can damage the optic nerve. Most findings show that glaucoma is inheritable and may not show up early in life. However, if left unattended on time, the condition can result in total vision loss and blindness.
However, with a complete eye exam and early treatment, you can protect your sight against severe vision loss. Once detected on time, the doctor will determine the best eye surgery between lasik vs prk to treat glaucoma before a long-term visual loss occurs.
- Cataracts
A cataract is a typical age-related eye condition characterized by clouding of the eye’s lens. The condition results from either injury, UV exposure, or protein deterioration. A cataract is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.
While the disease can develop at any age, it is more prone to people over 50. If not detected on time and treated, the condition can ultimately lead to severe vision loss. Fortunately, if detected on time, cataracts can be successfully treated. During treatment, the degree of vision loss may determine the need for eye surgery
- Refractive Errors
Refractive errors occur when light passes through the cornea and the lens. The predisposing factors include the length of the eyeball, natural ageing of the lens, or changes in the shape of the cornea. If the doctor detects it early, the condition can be treated through eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgery.
- Dry Eyes
A dry eye is an eye condition where tear glands cannot make enough tears or produce poor-quality tears. Eventually, the state can lead to inflammation of the eye, causing pain or scars on the cornea. In addition, without adequate lubricating, tears spread over the surface of your eye may cause irritation and difficulty reading or using a computer. An expert may suggest using a humidifier in your home, special eye drops that simulate real tears, or changes to your lifestyle, such as avoiding contact lenses to help.
- Macular Degeneration
This eye condition is characterized by damage to the macula, the area of the retina that perceives light. The condition is orchestrated by certain factors, including family history, age, and smoking. Although there’s no defined cure for macular degeneration, the doctor can discern lasik vs prk to choose the eye surgery method depending on your condition. Timely degeneration treatments may slow the progression of the disease if not preventing severe vision loss.
